EDITORIAL: Don’t travel by water without a life jacket

Twelve people died after a boat they were travelling in capsized on Nyabarongo River in Nyarugenge District over the weekend. The ill-fated boat carrying about 25 people was sailing from Kamonyi District, Southern Province, to a market in Nyarugenge District. Reports say that most of the people on the boat did not have life jackets. Many or all the people on board would have survived, if they had life jackets on. This is an unfortunate tragedy that could have been avoided. Local leaders in communities which largely depend on water transport should sensitize people on the importance of using life jackets. It should be mandatory for anyone who chooses to travel by water, to prevent similar tragedies in future. Any boat owner, who allows passengers on board without life jackets, should be held accountable to deter other people from doing the same. The boat operators have a duty to protect passengers, they should not operate boats without life jackets, and passengers should also care about their lives and avoid using boats without life jackets. Like in any other form of transport, accidents are bound to happen on water as a result of many factors. That is why it is important that anyone using water transport, should have a life jacket to prepare for any eventualities. Police should carry out routine surveillance on the lakes and rivers to ensure that rules on water transport are not flouted. Innocent people should not perish due to preventable tragedies like the case of Nyabarongo River.

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EDITORIAL: Don’t travel by water without a life jacket